Production Partner Webb Pickersgill: COS Spotlight

Webb is amazing! He is creative, professional, creative, fun to work with, creative and, oh! yeah, did I mention how creative he is?

Yes, we here at COS may be a little prejudice since Webb is one of our production partners and has done amazing book trailers for us, but other people think he’s amazing too! For example the fine folks who give out Emmy Awards. And those great people over at the Telly Awards. Did I mention the Empixx Awards? Well, let’s just say a lot of people find him to be above excellent! We happen to agree with them!

Webb started working with COS in 2005 and was brought to COS through Joe Gruberman. Webb’s video production is always top rate and he has an eye for what is beautiful, interesting and different.

Webb’s COS awards include a Telly for Devious by Lisa Jackson, EMPixx Award for Devious by Lisa Jackson (obviously this is a “must see” book trailer!), and an EMPixx Award for Found by Margaret Peterson.

Webb is an accomplished cinematographer, editor and director in Phoenix Arizona with credits in TV, commercial, feature film and short film. His projects have been seen on national TV, movie screens, and internet screens across the country and world. In addition to the Telly, Davey, and Communicator awards, he also was awarded with 2009 Arizona Filmmaker of the Year, as well as a 2009 Rocky Mountain EMMY award for cinematography. He loves creating something unique and beautiful for each client.

Production Partner Kyle Lake: COS Spotlight

Kyle joined COS in 2005 working on a wonderful book trailer for one of our favorite people, Susan Squires. He went on to create book trailers for such famed authors as Christine Feehan and Karen Rose. His recent book trailer, You Belong To Me by Karen Rose won a Telly Award this year!

Kyle is one of the most versatile people on the planet. We’re sure of it. The entire planet! We couldn’t really survey the entire planet, but we did survey the COS office and we feel that’s pretty accurate.

We totally pilfered the information about Kyle’s background from his LinkedIn page (http://www.linkedin.com/in/kylemlake) so don’t tell on us! Lol

After forming the Prosper Media Group over 12 years ago, Kyle recognized the need for efficient, effective and economical media production that could be available online to anyone and a new company was started, Done In Sixty Seconds online video services.

Kyle possesses over 13 years of multimedia production & business management experience. He has worked with any variety of national clients on a wide scope of projects.

He has also taken on consulting projects with other developing businesses including Talon Winery & Vineyards as Director of Operations in 2005. He has written 3 feature length screenplays for film and currently heads the kNOwMORE Nonprofits coalition where he produced the projects first thirty minute broadcast television show.

Kyle received a Telly nod in 2002 while working with the New Jersey Network and was nominated for 3 ADDY awards in 2007. He was recognized by the Lexington Venture Club and Commerce Lexington in 2008, 2009 and 2010 for his work with Done In Sixty Seconds and received the Kentucky Enterprise Fund grant from the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation.

While growing Prosper Media Group on a regional and national level, he has worked directly with clients such as, ESPN, NBC, CBS, US PRO Rodeo, iHigh, Host Communications, Miss USA, University of Kentucky, American Heart Association, Communication Workers of American, US Navy Seals, US Air Force, US Marines, National Kidney Foundation, Horse Racing Television and Osram Sylvania, Toyota, Acura… to name but a few.

See! Impressive! Just like we said!

We all enjoy working with Kyle and his amazing team!

Senior Editor/Production Partner Joe Gruberman: COS Spotlight

Joe became a COS production partner in 2003 and has worked on over 100 book videos! Joe is the Head of Production for all Wiley Publishing book videos and works on many other COS projects.

Joe has done book videos for authors such as Christine Feehan, C.L. Wilson and Susan Squires. Joe also does script writing for COS!

He is an award-winning writer/producer whose projects have included four independent feature films and three television programs, as well as many shorts and commercial ads, several of which have been produced under his banner of Bronck's Park Productions. An accomplished director, videographer and editor, Joe launched a free educational series for indie filmmakers in 2004 and continues that series to this day under the sponsorship of IFP/Phoenix, where he serves as Education Director. Joe is also an American Red Cross volunteer, and is on the board of the Arizona Screenwriters' Association.

Chief Technology Officer/Senior Editor Jacob Henderson: COS Spotlight

Jacob started with COS in 2002 with the very first book trailer, Dark Symphony. He produced all of the Behind the Scenes segments in the early years as well as working as part of the production crew.

Jacob has done a lot of hands-on work with special make-up as well as specializing in 3D modeling and animation. Recently, Jacob created a series of illustrations for National Geographic which will be used in a COS book video as well as used by NatGeo for posters and book covers!

In 2007 Jacob took over as web master for the COS website and in 2010 was promoted to Chief Technology Officer. In 2011 he attended Google I/O where he was trained to create Android apps and he is currently working on an app for COS’ Reader’s Entertainment site.

Jacob has been a production partner/editor since 2007 and does the majority of animation work for COS. He is an expert in video formatting and is responsible for archiving all COS projects, maintaining the database for COS and working on high level distribution of COS videos including all interactions with OverDrive, which includes over 7000 libraries.

Jacob lives in Northern California and works from the COS studio. His wife, Jen, often does voice over for COS. His daughter Kaylie often visits at the COS studio and often runs the office. She’s 3 years old, she runs pretty much everything.

Web Design and Technology Master Garrett Valdivia: COS Spotlight

Garrett started working with COS in 2010. Garrett is the web master for Reader’s Entertainment, creates websites for our clients, works in our distribution department and does special projects for COS.

Garrett is a kind of Jack-of-all-trades and excels at everything he does. We swear we have not employed any mind control over him to work with us. At least, not that he knows.

He's one of those people who can think fast on his feet and always tries to find a solution no matter how difficult a problem may seem. No, he did not pay us to say that. It’s really true!

Garrett is our Google guru, project management system guru and SEO guru. Just call him, “Garrett the Guru” we’re sure he’ll answer to that.

He sets up COS players for our bookseller/librarian program and we often turn to him with internet questions. He works directly with our Chief of Technology, Jacob Henderson.

He grew up in Southern and Central California with an intense interest in creative media. During his school years, he learned graphic arts, music theory, and many things about film and video game production.
After graduating early, at the age of 16, he got a job at Soundtrax Studios as a Foley Artist and spent several months recording sound effects tracks for various theatrical films, including PoolHall Junkies.

Then moving to Central California, he became more interested in web design and web marketing. He spent several years making a living with these skills, focusing on learning and delivering bleeding edge technology with his websites and teaching people how to market their site so that it actually brought them the results that they wanted.

During this time, he also created and maintained Tech-Bites.com, a site filled with free video tutorials for the average computer user. He gained his marketing knowledge through a number of reputable marketers, made a large impact on 2007's 30 Day Challenge, and was a member of the private marketing group, The Immediate Edge. His web marketing class was offered through Yosemite High's Adult Education program and he and his partner were invited to speak at many business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce. He created and profited from many niche sites with the techniques he learned and taught.

Garrett continues to be one of COS’ greatest assets.

Creative Director and Consultant Isaac Woofter: COS Spotlight

Isaac started working with COS in 2002 and became an investor in the company. His first job with COS was in a book trailer called The Gemini Keys, but he also starred in our first trailer to win a Telly Award, Mind Game, a novel by Christine Feehan.

Isaac invested a great deal of his time with the legal side of setting up the company, then the social side by attending meetings in New York with publishers and many book/reader conventions.

Isaac moved to New York in 2004 and continues to work with COS in a consultant capacity.

From Isaac:

Hello Everyone, I want to introduce myself for those I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting. My name is Isaac Hirotsu Woofter. The Hirotsu comes from my mother's maiden name, she is Japanese. I was born in New York, but lived in Boston, Ohio and Japan before doing most of my growing up in Northern California. My first language is Japanese and I still speak it conversationally.

I've played sports all my life and continue to do so. I am currently on three rec teams: a coed soccer team made up primarily of poets, a coed softball that plays across the nation and last but not least…I am the straight captain on my gay soccer team. This is not a typo and quite a fun story I can tell you about when we meet in person. When I lived in California I taught elementary school (Beginning Acting/Improv), coached T-Ball and Little League and worked as a Sushi Chef. Currently tend bar at a Restaurant/Bar called Henry’s (105th & Broadway). Stop by any time and I will buy you a drink.

In 2006 I graduated with a masters degree in acting from Columbia University. I have traveled and performed all over the world working with the great classic texts from Shakespeare and Moliere to today's new and exciting playwrights. Recently I appeared in a book about the use of the Mask as an actors tool. Soon I will be in a book/instructional DVD on how to play Commedia del Arte. I've starred, directed, written and produced many projects with Circle of Seven Productions since 2002.

I love brownie sundaes, whiffle ball, the Yankees and passionate people who can laugh at themselves. I love listening to Ella Fitzgerald in the morning and Nina Simone at night. My favorite color is crimson red.

COS Editor Mike Miller: In the Spotlight!

Michael E. Miller is a senior editor, technical advisor and consultant for Circle of Seven Productions. Michael is one of the founding members of Circle of Seven Productions. He was the Director of Photography, Visual Effects Supervisor and Editor of the very first official Book Trailer – “Dark Symphony” for Christine Feehan. Since then, he has produced hundreds of trailers and teasers for COS and won several awards for his work.

Although Michael remains an integral part of COS, he started his own company - Digital Realm Productions, in 2007 so he could offer his visual effects services to others.

Michael holds a degree in electronics, specializing in video. He custom builds all of the workstations used in his studio. He is also a musician and has written scores for several of the trailers he has worked on.

Michael is a member of the International Academy of Visual Arts.

Mike has worked on some our top winning videos such as Hush, Hush, Zombies Vs. Unicorns, The Price, This World We Live In and many others. Mike has won more awards for book video editing than any other editor in the United States.

Chief Financial Officer Ed English: COS Spotlight

Ed is probably best known for his participation in the RT Booklovers Convention where he represents COS at our official booth, runs videos during the event and is a favorite with many authors and readers due to his ability socialize. And, he’s a really great dancer!

Ed attended began working with COS in 2005 when he worked at an RT and then, later, started editing. He and CEO, Sheila Clover married in June of 2005 which explains the new name, Sheila Clover English.

Ed started doing the COS bookkeeping in 2008 and became the official Chief Financial Officer in 2009.

After obtaining his 4-year degree Ed went into network security. He worked on computer networking, security and administration for over 12 years, 4 as a manger. In college he worked behind the scenes with lighting and sound for stage productions. He also did some acting, which he pursued later in life, being on several regional television commercials.

Ed began working on Reader’s Entertainment Radio with his hit show Behind the Mask, a show about comics, graphic novels, manga and popular culture in 2010. The show has a following of 80,000. He attends ComicCons and enjoys his Thursday shows.

Editor, Account Manager and VP Victoria Fraasa: COS Spotlight

Victoria jointed COS in 2004 with her debut book trailer Dead on the Dance Floor by Heather Graham. Since then Victoria has worked on book video projects for bestselling authors such as Christine Feehan, Lisa Jackson and many others.

Victoria has had an integral role at COS and moved up to become the Vice President of the company. She takes an active role as VP and is an Account Manager dealing directly with publishers. Victoria attends many conventions for COS including Book Expo America, RT Booklovers and many smaller venues.

The daughter of a Spaniard/Filipino father and American mother, Victoria grew up in Miami, Florida. After graduating from Florida State University she worked in New York City for the next ten years in various film industry jobs including a camera woman for CNN, film stage manager, and producer of music videos and commercials. After years of successfully producing high end music videos and commercials, she turned her efforts to developing and directing short films. Her first short film "Breathless" was accepted in 1998 by the Independent Film Projects' Independent Feature Film Market. Her next film, "Maria of the Flowers" was awarded first place in "Collaboration…A Short Film Contest" held in Miami. The film premiered in London at the BBC British Short Film Festival and has been accepted at several Hispanic Festival across the United States. Victoria, with her cinematographer husband Steve Fraasa, is owner of Fraasa Films, Inc. which produces and directs infomercial's, commercials and short films for the book industry. Victoria is currently working in both Los Angeles and Florida as a director.

Distribution Manager H. Wayne Miller: COS Spotlight

We are pretty sure Wayne has always worked for COS even before there was a COS. He is like the anchor that keeps the company grounded and sure. Wayne started doing video distribution in 2005 back in the day when MySpace was the biggest social media site around. Remember those days? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Then YouTube and Facebook hit the scene and the quiet land of COS-Video-Distribution took flight and has grown into the great online metropolis it is today. In 2005 Wayne uploaded videos to 10 sites and it was a big sales point to clients. Now, he has amassed a sizable collection of online distribution sites (350 and growing!) in which he oversees. He was, for the first two years, THE distribution department. Now, the distribution department is made of a staff of six, including Wayne.

Wayne is a successful musician.
Here he is playing at Gilley's in the 80's

Wayne has great passion for what he does. He takes personal interest in every video he uploads. He can tell you what sites are good for which genres and what sites are just plain crummy to use and why. Wayne works full time for COS.

A little-known fact about Wayne is that he looks suspiciously similar to the CEO of Circle of Seven, Sheila English. Could be they are related. At least that’s what her birth certificate says.

Google Buys Motorola: Are you making your Droid App yet?

COS sent Chief of Technology Jacob Henderson to Google I/O this year to find out what’s on the horizon for Google and see how that might fit into what we do as a company.

Google TV has been updated and Reader’s Entertainment and News site looks beautiful on the big screen! Google’s strategy to reach every screen size is not surprising and their push to the Android app has been assertive. Droid apps work with Google TV and those using the Google app will be in for a big treat when the amount of interactivity is finally known.

The big news this week is Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion dollars. It’s a step closer to providing the whole experience, much like Apple does.

Shares of Motorola Mobility jumped 59 percent on Monday. No shock there.

Motorola Mobility focuses on smartphone and TV set-top boxes.

Obviously the Droid technology is already being used by other mobile platforms, but for Google to actually purchase hardware I wonder if it’s so much the mobile technology they are focused on or the box-top technology. With Google TV being of obvious importance to Google, having the box-top tv technology seems to make sense.

Google has always been one to keep strategy quiet until just the right time. Though books and book sales are probably not a main focus in all of this, at some point it will be a part of the mix. More platforms, more venues and more book sales. Apple and Amazon have got to be watching this and wondering, “What next?” If they aren’t, then Google has, in my opinion, already won.